Holacracy, Literacies and Organisational Transformation

Jul 13th, 10 / 2 Comments

Over the last couple of years I’ve had several people point me towards a new “breakthrough” “amazing” “truly integral” “third tier” approach to organisational design and management: Holacracy.  The implication was you need to learn this; the nice side was that people aligned my interests with ‘breakthrough,’ ‘amazing,’ ‘truly integral’ and ‘third tier.’

Frankly, in the world of organisations and getting things done collectively, I’ll settle for anything ‘first tier’ that actually works!  For those not familiar with ‘first tier’ whatever, don’t worry, the references in this piece stop here (or start here if you’re curious – but be warned it’s a deep rabbit hole;).  I’m also quite wary of new ‘management methods’ as they populate like rabbits, and tend to be as useful as the proverbial lucky rabbits foot.

Holacracy is, as the name suggests, an organisational governance method that attempts to embody Holarchy.   Hol what?  Well, holoarchy is an extension of the philosophical observation of holons, a term coined by Arthur Koestler, and popularised most recently by Ken Wilber and his version of Integral Theory, the AQAL model.  A Holon is anything that is both a part and a whole at the same time.  A whole/part – a brief history of holons is here.  The organisational approach is that there are natural (read ‘healthy’) collections of holons (the part aspect) that form functional wholes (teams, organisations etc).  Just so we’re clear, Holacracy isn’t the first effort at this… just the most recent, and the one most often passing across my desk lately.   It is also a misapplication, technically speaking, of how Ken Wilber would regard a holon… another messy little rabbit hole if ever I journeyed one;)

The other week I had a discussion with the executive staff and executive director of a community organisation in the USA.  The community has thousands of loosely associated members worldwide, a 15+ year formation history, and real viability challenges in terms of ‘getting things done.’  Well, that’s not  quite right, they’ve survived this long right?  But from their point of view, they’re looking to take the next steps towards greater coherency in collective actions.  Something most organisations can relate to…

In presenting an opportunity for a (pro-bono) strategic foresight project to them, the method of Holacracy again reared its’ head.   Apparently it’s the flavour of the month, something everyone is aligned to and looking to implement as their next big step.

Well, in line with that, I’d like to offer some reflections as someone who has engaged in organisational establishment and transformation professionally for the past 10+ years.  Let’s call them some not-so-subtle cautionary considerations.  Not-so-subtle largely because I’m in a hurry, but also because I want the warnings to stand out clearly for them: they’ll risk being called half formed, biased and non-appreciative… but if they are, at least we’re talking about them.

So, what are my warnings?  Well, let’s start with a fly-by critique.  Holacracy could easily be described (negatively) as: Read More

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Runaway Climate Change

Jul 7th, 10 / 0 Comments

Well, whether you believe human’s cause or significantly contributes to climate change or not, the evidence is starting to pour in that not only is change occurring – above our long term averages – but that it is also accelerating.

In the past weeks there have been at least two items reported prominently in my local newspaper that confirm the trajectory that the best scientific minds with the most evidence can currently discern:

1.  Average temperature is set to rise by 4 degrees centigrade over the rest of this century.  It has long be held that a rise of only 2 degrees centigrade would be sufficient to significantly imperil our – that’s humanity’s – current way of being in the world.  Think failing food chains, significant ice cap loss like the entire Greenland ice sheet, massive disruption and dramatic variability in local weather conditions around the globe.

2.  Average sea level is set to rise by 1 meter or more by the end of the century, if the global average temperature increase is at or more than 2 degrees centigrade.  Remember that a centimetre sea level rise can lead to an increase of sea water encroachment on land by up to 1 meter – due to storm surges, beach and headland erosion etc.   Obviously this would be most prominent in coastal regions that are closer to sea level; but also note that the majority of the world’s most populated cities are built around low lying ports, docks and river systems.

There are, unfortunately, massive feedback loops poised to take an increasing global temperature average and accelerate its change even faster.  The one that most concerns me, and fascinates me, is Methane Clathrate deposits – increasingly becoming known as the Clathrate Gun Hypothesis.  Read More

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The king is dead. Long live the Queen!

Jun 27th, 10 / 0 Comments

For the first time since around 1916,Australia has a PM and opposition leader both born in the UK.  What happened to Australia coming into her own?

If you haven’t taken the time, I highly recommend you watch Kevin Rudd’s final press conference – his farewell speech if you will (part 1- 2).  It’s quite astounding the amount of change he has led in such a short time.  While not a political historian, it strikes me as an immense amount of progressive change set underway; wide-ranging, forward looking and fundamentally humane in nature.  It really puts Howard’s efforts to shame.  That said, to so directly attack the power-wealth elite of this country, rather than conduct a guerrilla campaign, was brave, but stupid Kevin.  To give in to rent-seekers and then give up so easily on the ETS, was to underestimate the resolve of the majority of Australians on this issue, and the disappointment you would receive in return.  Kevin, such a pity you brought more management than leadership in relating to your parliamentary colleagues, and were unable to sell the story that would help voters understand your reforms.

To quote Guy Rundle from a recent Crikey email: Read More

An Open Letter to Peter Georgiou

Jun 9th, 10 / 0 Comments

It is rare that I am inspired, and actually follow through, with writing to someone I do not know. For me, it has always seemed a strange thing to do. But today, I could find no other way to do service to my reactions to reading the final speech of Peter Georgiou, upon his retirement from Australia’s federal parliament. A copy of the letter I sent Peter is below.

Dear Peter

You do not know me, nor I you. I was struck, however, by the immense respect, appreciation and hope that I felt in reading your final speech to Federal Parliament. Please know, I am not one to write letters. This is my first to an MP, although yes I have as a youth met and discussed issues with John Howard, Tony Abbott and Peter Reith while the Liberals most recently were in Government, and with several members of the current Government.

You may not have the time to read all your correspondence, but for your sake, I hope you will take the time during or after your transition period to whatever is next, to read it all – personally. I say this in the firm belief that if you have inspired myself to write, then surely there will be many others. Your work for the past many years in parliament is not, in my view, a highly lucrative one; hardly appropriate one might say, for the work load and personal tolls involved. My confident expectation of the clear and detailed positivity with which your service will be regarded is, while merely words, hopefully of some weight in balancing the scales in return for your efforts.

You may like to know that I am not, by voting, a Liberal. But the ideals you expressed in your speech, and the resonance they had for me that you have truly lived them and fought for them, find me in complete agreement. I recall your stance and no doubt only some of your efforts with regards to asylum seekers and Aboriginal youth. I recall thinking ‘thank God, there are people with Heart and Principle in our Parliament.’ I am not, I should say, at all religious. Yet my Spirit leapt to attention, in recognition of your clear, sane and compassionate approach to these issues. It is so easy to forget, to lament, to denigrate, the leadership we as a people have. I have often been guilty of this. Your leadership, however, reminded me of the inherent dignity our leaders can have. It inspired in me an aspiration to further embody the common decency I was raised to cherish; the fundamental human respect and freedom we all desire and deserve.

With you Sir, I am a liberal, no matter how I vote. As one seemingly inconsequential citizen, I thank you for your service. I hope you enjoy your well deserved retirement from Parliament; may it spur others to continue where you have left off.

Regards

Chris Stewart

Saniel’s 60th Birthday Celebrations

Mar 15th, 10 / 0 Comments

Sandra Glickman Tribute

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